Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Tuesday 15 June 1999

Scottish Executive

Development

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the maximum grant of £500 payable under the "Warm Deal in Scotland" programme.

Ms Wendy Alexander: With effect from 1   July, the maximum grant will be increased from £315 to £500. We have no present plans for any further increase. In contrast to the previous more limited scheme, the new Warm Deal will provide a more extensive package of works, comprising cavity wall insulation or loft and tank insulation, together with hot tank and pipe insulation, draught-proofing, 4 energy efficient lightbulbs and energy advice.

Development

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a higher grant for those recipients of the "Warm Deal" in Scotland programme who are unemployed.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There are no such plans. To introduce a higher grant for those who are unemployed would reduce the amount available for pensioners and other vulnerable householders who are not in the labour market.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to bring forward proposals to establish an education forum and, if so, when; and to specify its proposed membership, remit and relationship with (a) The Scottish Parliament and (b) Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools.

Mr Sam Galbraith: We shall consider proposals in due course.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to provide the Parliament with an estimate of the likely additional costs to Scotland’s fish processing industry of measures proposed to implement the European Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) as soon as possible after 1 July.

Sarah Boyack: I understand that the water authorities have been consulting industrial dischargers, including the fish processing industry, about the effects of implementing the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Much of the fish processing industry is in the area covered by the North of Scotland Water Authority, which has provided individual firms with estimates of the charge increases they will face over the next three years, if they take no action to reduce the amount and strength of the effluent they produce. I understand that the fish processing industry, with assistance from the North of Scotland Water Authority, local authorities, Grampian Enterprise Company and the Seafish Industry Authority, has commissioned consultants to report by August on ways to reduce these charges.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends after 1 July to request a meeting with Scotland’s water authorities to convey the concerns of Scotland’s fish processing industry over the implementation of measures including new charges in connection with the European Urban Waste Directive (91/271/EEC).

Sarah Boyack: I intend to meet all three water authorities as soon as possible to discuss a number of matters of mutual interest. I am aware of the particular issues facing the fish processing industry as a consequence of the need to comply with the statutory requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. These will form part of my discussions with the water authorities.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends after 1 July to request Scotland’s water authorities to refrain from signing any contracts in connection with relevant measures relating to the implementation of the European Urban Waste Water Directive (91/271/EEC) until a full review has been undertaken of the impact on Scotland’s fish processing industry and its findings considered.

Sarah Boyack: To introduce a delay in signing these contracts would almost certainly lead to the water authorities failing to meet the statutory requirements imposed by the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Clearly the water authorities must continue to plan to comply with their statutory obligations. Failure to do so would leave the UK open to infraction proceedings by the European Commission; any subsequent fines would fall to be met by the Scottish Executive.

  This issue is particularly relevant to the North of Scotland Water Authority. I am aware that the Authority is working in partnership with the fish processing industry to find ways to minimise the cost implications arising from compliance with the Directive.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister would welcome a meeting with a delegation representing Scotland’s fish processing industry with a view to assisting their campaign for a moratorium on the measures proposed for the implementation of the European Urban Waste Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC).

Sarah Boyack: My Ministerial colleague with responsibility for rural affairs and I would welcome a meeting with a delegation representing the fish processing industry to discuss the problems it faces. We cannot, however, support a moratorium on the measures proposed for implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. I refer Mr Lochhead to my answer to question S1W-18.

Fisheries

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange a meeting with the Fish Merchants Association (FMA) to discuss the treatment of effluent from the Scottish fish processing industry.

Sarah Boyack: My Ministerial colleague with responsibility for rural affairs and I would welcome a meeting with representatives of the Scottish fish merchants to discuss the treatment of effluent from the Scottish fish processing industry, if they wish.

Health

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to safeguard the long-term future of Stracathro Hospital and to indicate its intended strategy for the retention of rural hospitals across Scotland.

Susan Deacon: Tayside Health Board is currently conducting a review of acute services in Tayside which is due to be completed later this year. The services provided at Stracathro hospital are part of that review. The intention is to establish an equitable network of acute services which meets the needs of people across Tayside. The involvement of clinicians and the public is part of the review process. In addition, proposed changes to the configuration of services as a result of the review will be subject to formal public consultation before decisions are taken.

  The Scottish Executive expects Health Boards to apply the principles of the national Acute Services Review report when planning services for people in rural areas by balancing local access with the provision and maintenance of viable services of appropriate quality.